Invalid chair for bathtubs



Aug. 18, 1953 M. G. WEBB ET AL INVALID CHAIR FOR BATHTUBS Flled April 5, 1952 g Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Mildred 6 We ZI'Z' w a H m e 0 law m W Z a .w mm hv 4Q i atented Aug. 18, 1 953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE INVALID CHAIR FOR BATHTUBS Mildred G. Webb and Glenn Wallace Seat, Nashville, Tenn.

Application April 3, 1952, Serial No. 280,312 6 Claims. (cm-185) may take a shower bath without entering the tub and without fear of slipping.

1 Another object of this invention is to provide a means whereby an invalid may bathe under a shower which includes a supporting frame which is movable lengthwise of the tub, with a seat which is movable on the frame and movable transversely of the tub. 1

A further object of this invention is to provide in a device of this kind means for locking the seat against movement on the frame.

With the above and other objects in view, our invention consists in the arrangement, combination and details of construction disclosed in the drawings and specification, and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a detailed front elevation partly in section of an invalid chair and support constructed according to an embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view showing the mounting for the inner end of the carrier for the chair.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a modified form of supporting frame structure.

Figure '7 is a fragmentary front elevation partly in section showing the lower ends of the frame legs embodied in the modification shown in Figure 6.

Referring to the drawings, and first to Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, the numeral I0 designates generally a conventional bathtub with which the invention to be hereinafter described is adapted to be associated.

'In order to provide a means whereby an invalid, who is crippled to the point where he cannot readily bathe in the tub III or cannot stand'up in order to take a shower, may bathe,

we have provided a movable supporting frame, generally designated as II. on which a chair or seat, generally designated as I2, is movably mounted. The frame or carrier I I is constructed the form of a pair of horizontal rails I4, which are disposed in spaced apart parallel relation and are fixedly connected together at their inner .ends by means of a connecting bar I3.

The forward or outer ends of the rails I4 have secured thereto vertically disposed legs I5 which are connected together at their upper ends by means of a connecting bar I6. The legs I5 and they rails I4 are of angle shape, with the rails I4 in confronting relation. The lower ends of the supporting legs I5 are connected together by means of a connecting bar I1, and the terminal ends of the legs I5 have rubber cushion members it secured thereto by fastening means I9.

A horizontally disposed angle shaped guide rail 20 is adaptedto be secured to the wall 2I at the inner side of the tub l0, and the guide rail 20 is spaced slightly from the wall 2I by means of a spacer 22. The comiecting bar I3 is adapted to slidably engage on the horizontal side 23 of the guide rail .20 and the inner end of each rail I4 is formed. with an inverted U-shaped member 24, which loosely engages over the vertical side 25 of the rail 20.

The U-shaped member .24 provides a means whereby the rails I4 will be held against outward movement with respect to the rail 20 and at the same time will be permitted to slide horizontally along the length of the rail 20.

The chair or seat I2 is formed of a bottom plate 26, having openings 21 for permitting water to drain from the seat 26, and a back member 28 is hinged to the seat 26 and braced in upstanding position by means of supporting bars 29. The seat 26 is movably mounted on the rails I4 by means of pairs of rollers 30, which are rotatably cal sides or the rails I4. The rails I4 are locked against movement on guide rail 20 by means of pivoted stop members 48. I

' In order to provide a means whereby the chair or seat member I2 will be held against movement on the rails I4, we have provided pairs of chair locking members. generally indicated at 35. These locking members are formed of an elongated arm 36, which is pivotally secured by a mounting 31 to the seat 26. Theouter end of the arm 36 has a rubber shoe 38 secured thereto which, upon downward swinging of the arm 36, is adapted to frictionally engage the horizontal side of the rail I A, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2. The chair or seat member 12 has an outer and an inner pair of the holding members 35 secured thereto so that the chair [2 will be held against movementin either direction onthe rails I4.

Referring now to Figure 6, there is disclosed a modified form of this invention wherein the frame member Ha has a pair of r o-llers -39 s ecured to the inner end thereof which engage the guide rail 2911, which is fixed to the =wa1 32m. Stop members 48a similar to stop members 8=are carried by the rails Ma of frame Ha. 'Inother respects, the structure shown in Figure 6 is identical with that shown in Figures 1 to 5,ihclusive.

In Figure '7, there is disclosed a modified form f front leg 's'tructure for the ch a-irsu'ppo'r'tin'g 'frame'wherin the front legs l'5a'are formed of =an'upper leg member 43 and a-lower'legmember 4|. The leg'members 49 and overlap "each other and are provided with spaced openings whereby a pair of bolts 43 maybe'extended throughselected ones of the openings 52 so that the lowerleg men'iberfl may be secured'in adjuste'd position relative to the upper leg mem- =br 4'0.

Acaster or roller is secured to the lower "end of the lower leg member 4| by fastening mans"' 45. Theca'ste'r or roller '44 provides a means, in "association with therollers 39, whereby'the'rchair supporting frame may be readily shifted lengthwise of "the tub.

Preferably, the 'chair'or seat "i2 has an arm rest"-46' of substantially L-shape secured between tlie seat me'in-berZB and the' b'ackrest 28. There may bean-arm inemb'erfifi at either or both the inner and outer 'si'des'of the chair [2. Preferably, howeve'r,there"is only one-arm member which 'is-disp'osed at the inner side [of the chair 'so that entrance may be had tothe' chair from the oi'iter s'ide thereof.

'ln" the 'ii'se'hf this device, the base -frai'ne ll is d sposed withfthe rails Hi engaged with the rail 21} extending transversdy'over the tub 10. The person then "moves the chair F2to the-forwaiden'ds of-tlie rails l4 arid may, atthis'time, lock thec'hair l'-2 against movement inward or -o1itware {in-the rails'ld by dropping the holding f in'erribe 35; downwardly to rail engagi'n'g -posiftion Wlientheper'son is seatedin the chair' l2, the holding members 35 'i'na'y then be raised 'to "release-d position and the chair' moved inwardly "u'fitilthe person-"is disposed over the tub" HE.

A liori'zdntally disposed hand rail is pref- "ampl -"secured to the wall2l above'the'railifl so'that the occupant of thechair l2 may move lengthwise 'of' the tub or crosswise ofthe' tubby pulling on the rail 41. This device will provide "acdrivenientmeans whereby a handicappedperson-niay'rea'dily take asho'vv'r without dangerof "slippin or injury, 'andthehe'vice can be easily -i'e'tiioved from-memo by lifting theframe l I tip- "waraiy on ofthe "guide rails 2 0.

We do not me'a'n'to confine ourselves'to the exact details of construtionhere'in disclosed, but claimall variations fallingwithin the purview of the appended claims.

Whatis claimed:

-l. An invalid chair for-use in-oombination with abathtub comprising -a frame formed 7 of a pair of horizontal rails'extending transversely over said bathtub, a pair of vertical legs depending from the rail ends which extend exteriorly of said bathtub, connecting bars connecting said rails and legs together, a horizontal guide bar, said rails movably engaging said guide 5 bar, a chair, rollers carried by said chair movably engaging said rails, and means holding said chair against movement on said rails.

"2. An invalid chair for 'iiseain combination with a bathtub comprising a frame formed of 10 a pair of horizontal rails extending transversely 'over said bathtub a pair of vertical legs depending --from the rail ends which extend exteriorly of saidbathtub, connecting bars connecting said rails and legs together, a horizontal guide bar,

1 5 said rails movably engaging said guide bar, a

chair, rollers carried by said chair movably engaging said rails, and pairs of holding levers *pivotally carried by said chair engageable with said rails for holding said chair against 'movement.

3. An invalid chair for use in combination with a bathtub comprising "a frame formed of --a lpair'of horizontalrails extending transversely over "said bathtub, -'a pair -of vertical legs delpendi'ng from the rail ends which extend e xteriorlyof said bathtub, connecting bars-oonnecting said rails and legs together, -a horizontal guide bar, said rails :movably engaging said rtguide'bar, said guide-bar being-angle shape in transverse section with one side horizontal --and the other side vertical, inverted U-shaped retaining members carried by said -rails loosely engaging over the vertical side of sa-id :guide bar, a chair, rollers carried iby said e-ha-ir movabl'y engaging said rails, 'and meansvholding said chair against movement-on-said rails.

4. In combination 'with a bathtub, an invalid chair and supporting means therefor compris- -in'g an inverted t shaped frame, means sup- 49 -porting said 'frame with one side thereof horizontal and projecting over said bathtub, and a chair, means supporting said chair" for"trans 'verse -moveinent on said horizontally protecting --sides ofsaid frame.

*5. 'In combination with a bathtub; an -invalid chair and supporting means therefor compnising an inverted "L shaped frame, means suD- porting said frame with'one:side-thereof-Fhori- 'zontal' an'diproj ecting' over sa-id bathtubrachain 50 means supporting -sai'd "chair for -:transverse movement 'on' said horizontally proj ecting sides of said frame, and means locking --S3;id--0ha'ir agai-nst movement on said frame.

combination with a bathtub, an-invalid chair and supporting means therefor compris- "ing an in'verted 'L shaped "frame Wit-h one side --tnereor horizontal an'd extending over the top of said bathtub, a horizontal guide bar dis- "posed above tlie bathtub, inverted U-shapedrsf t ers carried by E said .frame loosely f engaging "said gu ide bar, a clia-ir, and I means .fi'siipportin' said chair for transverse movement across said "bathtub on said: horizontally;projecting sides of said fiame. MILDRED .G. "WEBB.

GLENN WAEBACE fiEA-T;

References Cited 1 in the' -file :of this .spatent GMTED sTATE'S PA I'ENTS Number W -Name "Date --2-,237,0'76 Kenney et -al. "Apr. 1, 19h

FCDREIGIN PATENTS 'N-ii n'ber Country *Date 7 116,462 Austria *Feb. 25, "1:930 

